Speaking on the issue of the recent debate about presidential candidacy in the next election, Turkish President Abdullah Gül has said there are still two more years before the presidential election, and when the time comes, he and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will discuss the issue. “We all have to do our job well. When the day comes, we will sit together and decide to do what is best. We are now obligated to do our job in the best way possible. There is still a long time ahead of us,” Gül said Aug. 4, elaborating on a proxy debate that was sparked by recent remarks from his senior adviser Ahmet Sever. There are more important things for both he and Erdoğan to do inside and outside Turkey.

“I would like to remind everyone that my friendship and relationship with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is beyond the articles of brotherhood. I request that you all keep this in your minds,” Gül said. In a recent interview Sever said that Gül might run for another term as president. Although Sever highlighted that this was only his personal view, the remarks still led to concerns over a possible clash between Gül and Erdoğan in the next presidential elections.